The millenarian Chin civilization extended its influence beyond Chinese borders, and was even present in the Caribbean region to stay forever.

In general, migration from China to other territories allowed creating the conditions for the establishment of colonies of citizens from that nationality in practically the whole world.

In that regard, the American continent was also included in this trend in view of the need for cheap and hard-working labor.

Havana's Chinatown attracts many travelers from all over the world who are interested in knowing how this kind of tradition are maintained on the Caribbean island, and particular in the city.

There is still a Chinese cinema, clubs and the Pacific building, which was totally renovated to house the Confucius Institute, in whose classrooms more than 4,000 Cubans learn the Mandarin language.

The first Chinese immigrants arrived in this archipelago in 1847 and left an imprint on all the activities of the country, including the wars of independence against Spanish colonialism.

Capitolio. Dome.

Chinatown

View of the City of Havana from the sea

Located in the populous municipality of Centro Habana, Chinatown has El Pórtico (The Portico), which marks the area between Dragones, Zanja and Galiano streets, where the largest number of Chinese descendants of those who migrated to the island since the 19th century reside.

Gastronomic offers dominated by the Chinese culinary traditions are among the main elements of pride by the residents of the area, where even several of experts in Chinese cuisine have arrived from Beijing to offer their collaboration.

Dragons, flags and lanterns are displayed several times in a year in a multicolored mixture in celebrations of Chinese dates, including the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, the Day of Clarity or Quing Min (Day of the Dead).

On this occasion in 2018, the Year of the Earth Dog yang has started to rule until February 5, 2019, according to the millennial cultural tradition of that Asian country. It seems that the vitality, power of communication, friendship, industriousness and friendship that it brings may be a sign of prosperity.

According to the Chinese horoscope, the dog is a sign of freedom, equality and fraternity, and appears to remember that everything is not rosy. A very loyal animal, the dog represents the defense of the rights of the most disadvantaged.

The signs of the Chinese horoscope rule every 12 years during a whole year and all those born in the Year of the Dog are considered to be under the auspices of that sign.

In this sense, all those who were born in the years 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 belong to the sign of the dog.

Very close to Chinatown, there are major recreational, cultural and tourist centers such as the Fraternity Park, the National Capitol, the Los Nardos and the Levant restaurants, the Aldama Palace, the Saratoga Hotel and the Fountain of India.